The Oakland Chinatown liquor store owner who was arrested after he fired a gun in an effort to fend off a robbery will not be charged, the Alameda County District Attorney announced Tuesday.
The incident happened at a liquor store at 9th St. and Franklin St. on February 15 when the store owner, identified as Aaron Yee, saw a woman being robbed of her camera across the street from his shop.
He fired four shots into the air to try and scare the suspects off.
"The District Attorney’s Office does not condone vigilantism," District Attorney Nancy O’Malley said Tuesday. "However, after a thorough review of the facts of the incident, it is clear that Mr. Yee fired his weapon in lawful defense of the victim of the robbery or what appeared to be a possible kidnapping."
According to the DA’s office, Yee heard the victim screaming as she was being robbed and drew his firearm. The suspects ran to their vehicle and drove away, hitting the victim as she laid on the ground.
The suspects also veered toward Yee and narrowly missed him.
Yee has a valid concealed weapon carry permit, the DA’s office said.
The would-be robbery comes as Asian Americans face a surge in violence, particularly in the Bay Area.
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